Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Sonus Faber Grand Piano Home Speakers by SethK

Model:	Grand Piano Home
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$3499
Description:	System: Is there really no high pass in the crossover? Not even at the 3,000 Hz point for the tweeter
Manufacturer URL:	Sonus Faber
Model Picture:	View

Review by SethK ( A ) on October 20, 2003 at 19:22:58
IP Address: 63.159.216.220

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Disclaimer:
I auditioned the product relatively briefly at Tweeter, with what I consider to be inferior electronics. Let me just say I am not a "proud poppa" regarding these speakers, as I don't own them and can't afford them new and will probably buy the older version (which I hope is nearly as good) used (review to follow).

Nonetheless, I was VERY impressed with these speakers, compared to Audio Physic Spark IIIs and Totem Hawks, which I auditioned at a different dealer with *superior* electronics (Sim Audio Moon system) and a better-prepared room. I also A/B-ed them at Tweeter with the SF Concerto Monitors.

Music tested:
-Orchestral (Sibelius Symphony #2, Chesky)
-Early Italian Baroque (Gabrieli--Sonate e Canzoni and Monteverdi--Selva, both Harmonia Mundi)
-Jazz (Monk with John Coltrane)
-Pop (Stevie Wonder--Innervisions)

I felt the GPHs had a very all-around game (I didn't bring hard rock though, which is a known weakness of Sonus Fabers in general). Soundstage was deep but not that wide and not as precise placement as the Hawks, and the speakers didn't quite disappear as well as the concertos did. Imaging overall was good, but not the best.

However, I felt the SF GPHs did the best job with ALL timbres--bowed strings (early period instruments are excellent for demonstrating this) had the right amount of edge (I disagree with the previous reviewer here) without harshness and plucked strings had good impulse, but not too in-your-face. Acoustic guitar and all tempo instruments on the Stevie Wonder were reproduced with exceptional clarity. All the music I listened to sounded exciting. The early brass had a beautiful round quality probably due to good bass. I think the bass was comparable to the Audio Physic Sparks, but the midrange and treble were MUCH better. The Totems were also all-around excellent performers, and are less expensive, but didn't do nearly as good a job with the brass timbres, and sounded very "refined", which I *liked*, but just weren't quite as...exciting. And all this with inferior electronics...

Looks: 10.

I left the audition smiling.

Product Weakness: Not the last word in soundstage width or precision.
Product Strengths: Timbral accuracy, the right "presence" of sound, music sounds exciting without fatigue.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Denon (?model) 170 WPC multi-channel
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Integrated
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Sony ES (top of their line)
Speakers:	Sonus Faber Grand Piano Home
Cables/Interconnects:	?
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	See above.
Room Size (LxWxH):	13 x 18 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	Rug
Time Period/Length of Audition:	30 min
Type of Audition/Review:	Dealer Demo

Product Weakness:	Not the last word in soundstage width or precision.
Product Strengths:	Timbral accuracy, the right "presence" of sound, music sounds exciting without fatigue.